These last 2 days I finished up chapter 14 and 15. For chapter 14, there was one other topic in the manual I thought was interesting. It talks about verses 1-5 and "a divided people." This is what Brigham Young said about this:
"The Gospel of salvation in perfectly calculated to cause division. It strikes at the root of the very existence of mankind in their wickedness, evil designs, passions, and wicked calculations. There is no evil among the human family, but at the foundation of which it strikes effectually, and it comes in contact with every evil passion that rises in the heart of man. It is opposed to every evil practice of men, and consequently it disturbs them in the wicked courses they are pursuing."
There is so much I want to say about this and about the world we live in today, but I can't figure out how I want to put it...I will say this, I think that all of us that truly believe in the gospel principles and the standards of the church should stand up for them more often. I am definitely a non-confrontational person so I am speaking to myself when I say this too. :)
Showing posts with label laws. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laws. Show all posts
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Suffering of the Righteous
Well, I am finally back to my everyday scripture study, after weeks of weird schedules on vacation and preparing for my lesson last week. Today I am reading Alma chapter 14...
I am a little worried. Yesterday there was a comment made during the lesson about how sometimes when you attend the temple your family may not be safe and it doesn't mean you are a bad person. Then, today the first thing that jumped out to me from my manual on chapter 14 was the section about how bad things happen to good people ("The Suffering of the Righteous.")
I really hope that the Lord isn't trying to prepare me for something...
Alma 14:8-11 Talks about how Alma and Amulek had the power to bring down punishment on the men who killed the believers of God, but didn't because he said that God permits the righteous to suffer for a purpose.
It says this in my manual:
"...if all sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. If pain, sorrow, and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil-all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls...no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or death...an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life. and godhood.
I am a little worried. Yesterday there was a comment made during the lesson about how sometimes when you attend the temple your family may not be safe and it doesn't mean you are a bad person. Then, today the first thing that jumped out to me from my manual on chapter 14 was the section about how bad things happen to good people ("The Suffering of the Righteous.")
I really hope that the Lord isn't trying to prepare me for something...
Alma 14:8-11 Talks about how Alma and Amulek had the power to bring down punishment on the men who killed the believers of God, but didn't because he said that God permits the righteous to suffer for a purpose.
It says this in my manual:
"...if all sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. If pain, sorrow, and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil-all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls...no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or death...an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life. and godhood.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Alma 2
WARNING: If you don't want to hear my view on politics then don't read this post.
This chapter is awesome! It is the story of Amilici and his attempt to reinstate a monarchical government and become king by using his cunningness and wisdom of the world. In the manual it says "this is another example of how wicked men sometimes seek governmental power in order to enforce their will on others. It also teaches that there are times when righteous people must take up arms to defend their laws and liberty."
I know that I shouldn't bring politics into my scripture reading, but I am today...sorry for those of you that don't agree with me, but I have to get this off my chest.
Amilici had intentions to change their government to ways of the world and in a way that would compromise the churches laws and liberties. Now, I know that in America we don't need to worry about our freedom of religion. However, when laws keep being put in place to not use certain religious words or actions in public (including schools) it makes me a little frustrated. You can see numerous examples of this in the last few years especially. America is not the nation our forefathers intended it to become.
Another thing that worries me is the current situation we are in. Right now our leaders are supporting abortion, gay marriage, etc. and we are all going along with it! The media is so liberal and so corrupt that when anyone stands up for their values they are slaughtered!! Look at Miss America. Yes, I know that she is not the best example of a virtuous woman, but at least she stood up for the Christian values she had, after which she was called all sorts of profanities on t.v. I know that a LOT of people LOVE our current president. I just really don't see how you can believe in the gospel and the standards and morals of the church and support him!! Honestly!
Okay, I will move onto more about this chapter. Obama, I mean Amlici got all of his followers together (and there were a lot) and led them to war against the righteous Nephites. The Nephites started out with the upper hand, however, soon the Amlicites joined the Lamanites and had the advantage. But, the Nephites had the Lord on their side and "did pursue them with their might, and did slay them." The remainder of the Lamanites were driven into the wilderness and eaten by wild beasts. :)
I think that we need to learn from the Nephites. We need to pursue righteousness with all our mights. We need to stand up for our values and standards and be the examples. We need to pray mightily for the Lord's direction and help and be strengthened by Him in all of our righteous endeavors.
This chapter is awesome! It is the story of Amilici and his attempt to reinstate a monarchical government and become king by using his cunningness and wisdom of the world. In the manual it says "this is another example of how wicked men sometimes seek governmental power in order to enforce their will on others. It also teaches that there are times when righteous people must take up arms to defend their laws and liberty."
I know that I shouldn't bring politics into my scripture reading, but I am today...sorry for those of you that don't agree with me, but I have to get this off my chest.
Amilici had intentions to change their government to ways of the world and in a way that would compromise the churches laws and liberties. Now, I know that in America we don't need to worry about our freedom of religion. However, when laws keep being put in place to not use certain religious words or actions in public (including schools) it makes me a little frustrated. You can see numerous examples of this in the last few years especially. America is not the nation our forefathers intended it to become.
Another thing that worries me is the current situation we are in. Right now our leaders are supporting abortion, gay marriage, etc. and we are all going along with it! The media is so liberal and so corrupt that when anyone stands up for their values they are slaughtered!! Look at Miss America. Yes, I know that she is not the best example of a virtuous woman, but at least she stood up for the Christian values she had, after which she was called all sorts of profanities on t.v. I know that a LOT of people LOVE our current president. I just really don't see how you can believe in the gospel and the standards and morals of the church and support him!! Honestly!
Okay, I will move onto more about this chapter. Obama, I mean Amlici got all of his followers together (and there were a lot) and led them to war against the righteous Nephites. The Nephites started out with the upper hand, however, soon the Amlicites joined the Lamanites and had the advantage. But, the Nephites had the Lord on their side and "did pursue them with their might, and did slay them." The remainder of the Lamanites were driven into the wilderness and eaten by wild beasts. :)
I think that we need to learn from the Nephites. We need to pursue righteousness with all our mights. We need to stand up for our values and standards and be the examples. We need to pray mightily for the Lord's direction and help and be strengthened by Him in all of our righteous endeavors.
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